Sambo is an acronym
of a number of Russian words and means self defence without a weapon. (SAMozaschita
Bez Orujiya)

Sambo was devised in Russia the 1930's. Official
recognition of new martial art came in 1938. At 1st it was called
"free-style wrestling", then "free wrestling," and in 1946 was renamed
"SAMBO." Sambo is a martial arts system that combines the techniques from a
number of martial arts including Chinese and Japanese Chinese forms;
national martial arts of USSR area natives (Georgians, Mongols, Russians
etc.); French wrestling and other unarmed combat techniques. During world
War II the system was widely "tested" by the Soviet army. "Special"
techniques were added at the time, for example fighting in cells,
quick-and-quiet sentry killing, and so on.

Sambo was and is currently being used for military,
police, self-defence, and as a sport throughout the world. Sambo is now
considered to be one of the 4 main forms of amateur wrestling along with
Greco-Roman wrestling, Freestyle wrestling, and Judo.

there are three distinctive forms of Sambo.

SAMBO is similar to Judo, but with differences in rules, protocol, and
uniform.

Self-defence SAMBO is very much like Aikijujutsu as it is designed to be
entirely defensive against attacks by armed and unarmed criminals. It is
also ideal for use by specific professions, such as taxi drivers, bank
employees, bodyguards, various law enforcement agents, etc. It is also very
useful for rape prevention and children’s self-defence.

Sambo primarily was developed as a Self Defence, when invented under the
Soviet Union it had no need to differential between Sport and Combat. With the
collapse of the Soviet Union those practising Sambo decided there should be a
need to differentiate between the two. Martin Clarke from the UK was the first
to separate Self Defence from Sport he called his system CombatSombo which he
registered in the UK , the International Governing Body for Sambo FIAS also
recognised Martin's Style. CombatSombo differs from Combat Sambo it advocates
control and restraint. The aim is not to turn people into Barbaric Animals with
no consideration for others. Combat SAMBO, which came into being many years
later is a very aggressive martial arts system designed to prepare an individual
to be effective in any situation. The purpose of Combat SAMBO is to “survive.”
Combat SAMBO includes techniques from both Sport and Self-defence SAMBO, but
uses them in different ways. It includes techniques that are dangerous and
prohibited in sports.

Combat SAMBO is constantly changing and evolving. With its ever-growing
arsenal of techniques adopted from many martial arts and fighting forms, it is
one of the most comprehensive self-defence and survival systems in the world.